Bass Gear Review

Reviewer	Peter Sylvia
Experience	30 years
Review date	October 06 2001
Manufacturer	Ampeg
Model	SVT
Price	$500.00
Item owned for	A very, very long time

Dimensions	height 11" width 23.5" depth 14"
Weight	85 pounds
Power	300 watts RMS+
EQ	Parametric
Other	Vintage 1970

My first encounter with an SVT was the day I bought one. $500.00 for the world famous SVT head and 1 cab. The original owner bought it brand new about 6 months earlier and decided to sell it because it was: 1) too big 2) too heavy and 3) too loud.... EXACTLY what I was looking for! (except for the weight) Big and loud, yeah! Hey, 500.00 to a teenager back then was a lot of money! I insisted on getting my moneys worth, after all, I actually WORKED for this money. This guy pluged in his Precision bass and it sounded really good. Then I pluged in my Dan Armstrong bass and it started to vibrate across the floor! He then proceded to warn me about operating only one cab with head. I was still in shock from the amps sound and I didn't figure out what he was saying till later on. Years later I ended up going thru about 8 speakers in all. They were only 30 watts each so that seemed reasonable, right? This head has only required service 2 times in 30 years! Once, a roadie droped it off of the back of the truck. They said it bounced real good. And the other was electrical. They TRULY DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THEY USED TO! I've had some modifications done to mine. The 2 external amp sends have been changed to an effects loop and the A.C. cord was replaced with a 3 wire cord for better ground. That's it! 10 years on the road, and another 20 years in and out of rehearsals and different bands and that's it! Mine is a 1970 model and today there are several types of SVT's around with different features and higher power ratings. Be smart! As in all cases, ask all the questions NOW, pay after you HEAR the head! I know you already know the name. There's a reason for that! Try one and see for yourself!

Construction	100%
(the only thing more reliable is GOD himself!)
Clarity	100%
(I love the pre-amp, but if by chance you have one and the tone seems off try
new pre-amp tubes)
Versatility	100%
(Can do ANYTHING!)
Volume	100%
("Oh my God!" is the standard volume level)
Customer Service	100%
(Saint Louis Music is very good)
Value	100%
(the best)
Overall	100%
(I'm not a religious person but I have to say	0%
this amp!")